Cilacap delivered a tenacious victory in the Listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, February 15, securing another stakes win for trainer Grahame Begg and jockey Craig Williams.
The three-year-old filly, by Written Tycoon, showed determination in the final stages to reel in Husk and claim victory by a quarter of a length, with Sneaky Sunrise finishing in third.
Jumping from barrier eight, Cilacap settled midfield as Husk took control of the early tempo, closely followed by Captured By Love and Another Prophet.
Williams kept the filly balanced throughout, gradually making his move as the field straightened for the run home.
Despite shifting under pressure, Cilacap found another gear in the final strides to surge past Husk, proving her class over the 1400m trip paying .
Post-race, Williams reflected on the filly’s effort, highlighting her raw talent.
“She’s a big girl with plenty of engine. She still has a lot to learn, but she’s got so much ability.
“The team has done a great job preparing her for today, and she’s only going to improve off this run,” Williams said.
Stable representative Rowan Hughes praised Cilacap’s performance and outlined her future plans.
“She’s still a big, raw filly, but she’s progressing beautifully.
“This was an important test for her today, and she passed with flying colours.
“We’ve been targeting an Australasian Oaks campaign, and she’ll go up to a mile next start to continue that progression.”
With this victory, Cilacap now holds a career record of five starts for four wins and a third, amassing $307,110 in prize money.
Cilacap’s performance in the Desirable Stakes cements her status as a filly to watch, with her next race set to provide further insight into her capabilities at longer distances.
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